vacío
/bah-SEE-oh/
empty
Illustrating vacío as 'empty,' or lacking contents.
vacío(adjective)
empty
?lacking contents
vacant
?room or seat
,hollow
?figurative feelings or words
📝 In Action
El vaso estaba vacío después de que bebí todo.
A1The glass was empty after I drank everything.
Sus palabras sonaron vacías y sin sinceridad.
B1His words sounded hollow and insincere.
La oficina se siente vacía sin ti.
A2The office feels empty without you.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'vacío' must match the thing it describes in both gender and number: 'el vaso vacío' (masculine singular), 'la botella vacía' (feminine singular), 'los estantes vacíos' (masculine plural).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Estar' vs 'Ser'
Always use 'estar' (to be) with 'vacío' because it describes a temporary state or condition (the container is empty right now). 'El refrigerador está vacío'.
Illustrating vacío as a 'void,' a sense of profound absence.
vacío(noun)
void
?a sense of absence or loss
,emptiness
?the state of being empty
vacuum
?physics or technical context
,gap
?a space or opening
📝 In Action
Sintió un gran vacío en su vida después de mudarse.
B1He felt a great void/emptiness in his life after moving.
El astronauta flotaba en el vacío del espacio.
B2The astronaut floated in the vacuum of space.
Hay un vacío enorme entre lo que dice y lo que hace.
C1There is an enormous gap between what he says and what he does.
💡 Grammar Points
A Masculine Noun
When used as a noun meaning 'emptiness' or 'the void', 'vacío' is always masculine: 'el vacío' (the void), even if the object that is empty is feminine.
Illustrating vacío as 'flank steak,' a popular cut of beef in South America.
📝 In Action
Para el asado, compramos un kilo de vacío.
B2For the barbecue, we bought a kilo of flank steak.
El vacío a la parrilla es mi plato favorito.
B2Grilled flank steak is my favorite dish.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Meat Terminology
Be aware that this meaning is highly regional. In other parts of the Spanish-speaking world, you might need to use terms like 'falda' or 'sobrebarriga' for similar cuts.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vacío
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'vacío' as a noun describing a feeling of absence or loss?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'vacío' related to the verb 'vaciar'?
Yes, absolutely! 'Vaciar' means 'to empty' (like emptying a cup), and 'vacío' is the adjective describing something that *has been* emptied. 'Vacío' is also the 'yo' (I) form of the verb 'vaciar' in the present tense: 'Yo vacío la botella' (I empty the bottle).
How do I know if 'vacío' refers to 'empty' or 'flank steak'?
Context is key! If you are talking about food, especially barbecue, in Argentina or Uruguay, it means flank steak. In all other contexts, especially when describing objects or feelings, it means 'empty' or 'void'.